| " a true tale of....T w i s t e d F a t e" |
| Pertinent Activities Prior To Reporting For Duty |
| Captain Charles Gilbert Sr. called in sick for fights on October 18, 19, 23 & 24 because of a cold and sinus condition, but was off medication thereafter. He flew from Los Angeles to Miami on the 25th, reporting for duty at 2140 and departing at 2240, arriving in Miami at 0320. After reporting for duty at 1315 the same day, the 26th, he departed Maimi for Los Angeles at 1415, arriving at 1913. The sane evening he flew as a passenger to El Paso. On the 27th he flew a P-51 from El Paso to Phoenix where the aircraft developed mechanical problems. The aircraft was left in Phoenix. He continued on a passenger flight to Palm Springs, spending the night and the next day there. He drove home to Los Angeles that evening. On the 29th at 1115 he reported to the McDonnell Douglas DC-10 simulator at Long Beach, Ca. for a briefing session prior to his required semiannual training and proficiency check flight. The flight was conducted in the simulator, starting at 1215 and lasting four hours. On the 30th, the morning prior the accident, the Captain rose about 0900, had a good breakfast, flew a T-6 aircraft, had lunch and flew home with a total flying time of 1:50. He had dinner at 1900 and went to bed at 2030. Ar 2230 he arose and left the home at 2315. He had been advised earlier that the flight would be delayed for one hour. He reported for duty at 2340. |
| Though based in Los Angeles, F/O Ernie Richel lived near Seattle, WA. It was his custom to sleep during the afternoon when he was scheduled for this or similar flights. Whether this was done on this particular day is unknown. It was confirmed, however that his Los Angeles Chief Pilot called the F/O at 0800 on the 30th and had a conversation with him regarding a discrepancy report concerning his on-duty appearance earlier in the month. The Chief Pilot could not detect whether he had awakened the F/O or not, but the conversation ended on a "high note." To ensure arrival at Los Angeles in ample time to report for duty at 2240 on the 30th the F/O had flown as a passenger on a Western Air Lines flight which arrived there at 2117. During the interim before departure, he had a one-hour conversation with a close friend who reported that the F/O appeared well rested, in good spirits and frame of mind. During the period of October 7-15, the F/O had reported sick for two sequences of flying. This may have been due to a strained back. Unfortunately, accurate logging of the F/O's actgivities any more closely was not possible. As a side note, he had recently been divorced and had lost 20 pounds. He was not known to have been on any medication at the time of the accident. |
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